Warren G. Harding "America First" - Motivational Graphic Tee

Warren G. Harding, 29th President, died in office in 1923. His nomination for President was the result of a strategic move by a political operative, who promoted Harding as a compromise candidate. One senator noted, "This year we had a lot of second-raters. Harding is no world-beater. But he's the best of the second-raters."

While he lived, he was one of the most popular presidents in American history, but after his death, numerous scandals became public which damaged his reputation. In sum, he was a weak, unserious man, who said to an aide, “I am not fit for this office and never should have been here.”

What dove his popularity was an appealing message of "return to normalcy" after the turmoil of World War I and the divisive presidency of Woodrow Wilson. This slogan resonated with a war-weary public who desired a return to pre-war stability, economic prosperity, and a less interventionist government.

On January 8, 1920, he wrote; " To safeguard America first. To stabilize America first. To prosper America first. To think America first. To exalt America first. To live for and revere America first. . .Let the internationalist dream and the bolshevist destroy. . .In the sprit of the republic we proclaim Americanism and acclaim America."

Maybe not a "great man," but a patriot. Acclaim America with this great shirt!